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Christmas Come True’s nonprofit artisan gift shop, in Flagler Beach, closed in April, after a year in business. But that doesn’t mean owner Nadine King ever stopped dreaming. 

Christmas Come True, which was established in 2009 to provide underprivileged youth with holiday gifts, clothing and meals, will move to 1299 N. Oceanshore Blvd., shedding the store element in order to focus more on services.

A grand opening barbecue beach party, the proceeds from which will benefit Christmas Come True, will be held Sept. 15.

“The store was 40 hours a week, plus you had to do all of the paperwork,” King said. “It was taking up so much of my time that I couldn’t keep up with the families (in need).”

But once she moves into her new offices, on the first floor of a converted house donated for a year to King’s organization by Karen Barcowski, of The Selby Group, she hopes that will change.

“I needed something free,” King said. “Everything I do is for the families, so I really couldn’t see having to keep paying for (workspace).”

In her new location, King plans to bypass the store element in favor of a greater focus on community aid.

“I’ve found that there’s a huge need for that sort of thing,” she explained. “I want to have different counseling programs going on, different seminars … year-round.”

She also envisions her organization partnering with foster-care groups, as well as creating a local network of residents who can help one another find jobs, inexpensive apartments and other resources.

In the past three years, Christmas Come True has helped more than 240 families and 500 children in Flagler County. In the upcoming year, King hopes to provide holiday dinners and gifts to 100 families.
And to kick off her rebranded agency, King plans to get theatrical.

In a spin-off of the 1965 film “Beach Blanket Bingo,” Christmas Come True’s grand opening, which King is calling “Beach Blanket Bonanza: The Kidnapping of Sugar Cookie,” will be themed after the movie. The event already has Flagler Beach Mayor Linda Provencher signed on to play the role of Sugar Cookie, an alter-ego of the film’s lead, Sugar Kane, who gets kidnapped by a biker gang that demands $1,000 ransom for her return.

Three days before the Sept. 15 grand opening party, Provencher will be “kidnapped” at Johnny D’s Beach Bar & Grill, at 1005 Oceanshore Blvd., and the city will have to raise $1,000 to get her back.

The biker gang will then hand the ransom money over to Christmas Come True on Sugar Cookie’s return, as an apology for their actions.

So far, local companies Paddle-Out Water Sports, Alani’s Creations, Oceanshore Custom Catering, Wholistic Graphics, Sally Thayer & Collings Bookkeeping, and Mark “Tikitender” Woods have agreed to donate food and marketing services to the grand opening event. King will also have beach games and Pyramid Disc Jockeys on site, as well.

Tickets for the party are anticipated to be about $6 each.

For more, or to donate, call 569-4429, or visit christmascometrue.org.

 

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